WebOS Wars: eyeOS vs MyBooo
Last week we profiled eyeOS, which had just launched its 1.0 version. This week the eyeOS team contacted me to claim that a new competitor, MyBooo, has broken the Open Source license of eyeOS 0.9.x and is using it as a base for their project.
The WebOS space is made up of a number of small startups, many of them in Europe, and it seems to be prone to flare ups and disagreements between developers. In May 2006 I blogged that eyeOS claimed Orca was vaporware - and a heated discussion took place. Part of the issue there was confusion about whether Orca is open source, which is the bone of contention with MyBooo too.
So to the current controversy. eyeOS is claiming that MyBooo has used the eyeOS 0.9.x source code and subsequently published their version as closed source. eyeOS says that MyBooo integrated some eyeOS 0.9 open source software with other pieces of open source software, e.g. some ajax frameworks. Whatever the case (and I'm in no position to judge), it's clear that MyBooo has used some eyeOS code. Here for example is a screenshot that Spanish blog wwwhatsnew.com took, which shows an eyeOS document on the MyBooo server:
Although the eyeOS 0.9x code has since been superseded by the 1.0 version, eyeOS wants MyBooo to "recognize that they broke the GPL license". In the comments to wwwhatsnew.com's post, a representative from MyBooo (Jeremy, no last name given) admits they used some eyeOS code, but otherwise he vigorously defends his company:
"Today few developers of EyeOs cummunity who spread a rumor in the Blogs and have shamefully attacked MyBooo. They mentioned and I quote "stolen their code and broken the GPL(General Public Licence)". We DO NOT appreciate this kind of slander and insult to our work via Web.
We are totally transparent with our sources and we have never intended nor thought of stealing the codes of EyeOS.
We confirm on the other hand that we have used a small part of EyeOS for developing MyBooo. We have found a small part, again a small part only, of EyeOS code useful to use hence we had integrated it to our system rather than re-developing the same. We were also encouraged that our project is compatible to them in case of any future partnership (which has been largely breached because of false accusations of our open source vision)."
It's unclear to me whether or not MyBooo has broken the GPL license terms, but they have certainly used some eyeOS code. It seems the stand-off can easily be rectified by MyBooo giving eyeOS the credit they deserve, in the MyBooo licensing.
The WebOS market is a fiercely competitive one, so these tiffs will continue I suspect until a clear market leader emerges. Right now, eyeOS is a leading contender, along with others such as YouOS and DesktopOnDemand.
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They still have in their servers some files mentioned in linked spanish post:
http://mybooo.com/DOCS/QUICK%20INSTALL%20MANUAL
http://mybooo.com/DOCS/gpl-license.txt
http://mybooo.com/system/scripts/gclock.js
This last one seems to be used in their desktop2.php website, and has a GPL header, so they should be distributing the code. There is a myth about GPL allows you to break the license if you do not distribute the code, but its just a myth. They're breaking GPL.
In their website you can read:
Mybooo ® powered by lynxoft © 2007
It should say Mybooo uses eyeOS!
eyeOS seems to be definitely the leader in this new market, I'm following them since some time go, and they're the only ones Open Source, and being Open Source opens real possibilities for the new "web OS" market, since every company can use it internally and do not have to trust someone else's servers, which happens with all the eyeOS competitors.
Mybooo guys, publish your code and recognize your work is really someone else's work!
this guy broken the license in fact. Check the guidelines of the free software foundation.
IMHO, flash on a front page... mmmh...
There is nothing in the GPL that stops Mybooo from doing this. The GPL only comes in to affect when *distributing* software, so Mybooo can run whatever they like on their own servers.
This is the reason the Affero GPL was created and is used by some web developers. It has an extra clause saying source code must be made available over the network in the same way the main site is accessed.
jeremy, or whoever that guy is, is completely dishonest. they stole it - its obvious - and are still lying about it
You need to recognize the work of others, or create everything from scratch yourself, and that what mybooo has done doesn't seem to be very cool.
The one problem that all these types of projects (webos/webtops) are faced with, is the fact that users may use it in unexpected ways.
They may use their account to upload files and content that may be the property of others.
- This is a generic problem, and something EyeOS will have to face also.
I hope someone discusses this later, in another post maybe, someone who is legal savvy enough to explore that subject in depth.
Mmmm...Not a big fan of these webOS's just yet. Still don't offer significant enough advantages. I wonder how Longhorn's Terminal Service enhancements will affect these WebOS's. If one can remote into a desktop from anywhere will there be a need for a separate webOS?
I like desktoptwo but I guess this is mainly just EyeOS vs Booo. Booo doesn't look much better then eyeos but of coarse you seem to need an invite for booo. And Xindesk LOOKS good but it isn't out.
A taste of xindesk is found at http://www.widgetplus.com - it's not the actual webos, only the widget framework part, admittedly a minor part of the whole thing, but still..
We have also commented on this whole mess here, http://www.xindesk.com/blog
How many more WebOS do we want? I think It would be nice if some one could come up with a features list for all the WebOSs and a comparison could be done.
Ok get the Bots ready! Just kiddin..... "Mydoodoo, errr I mean (mybooo)" ;-)Should be respectful and honest and give credit where credit is due. Users aren't stupid and if they feel there getting shitted on in anyway the will take their business else where. Especially with the negitive comments in the blogosphere.
Ok get the Bots ready! Just kiddin..... "Mydoodoo, errr I mean (mybooo)" ;-)Should be respectful and honest and give credit where credit is due. Users aren't stupid and if they feel there getting shitted on in anyway the will take their business else where. Especially with the negative comments in the blogosphere.
How can eyeOS even be considered a viable Webtop? It's extremely slow in each action and there is no formal direction to the project. Since its launch, there have been no solid applications for the system and there have been no steps taken towards integrating external services into the webtop. If the 'webtop world' is truely being investigated how can this article overlook LaszloSystems:
http://www.laszlosystems.com/software/webtop
The Laszlo Webtop is a thousand time farther along in development and is honestly setting a standard that eyeOS could not possible follow without an entire restructuring. Yes, Laszlo is a commercial platform, but it's feature set is unparalleled. This is the direction that the open source webtops need to follow.
Has MyBooo broken the GPL? No, this is open source, that is the definition, to build off the community and to grow. Does having an eyeOS document on their server mean anything? it simply means that they were doing their due diligence into world that they are helping to build. I think this slander on their project pushed out by one of their competitors is childish and completely unmerited. If you're afraid of other projects using your code then you should make your project closed source. you can't have both worlds, and it seems like that's what the eyeOS team wants.
Good luck for both eyeOS and MyBoo. Please check out G.ho.st, the Global Hosted Operating SysTem at http://G.ho.st. G.ho.st is a free Virtual Computer (VC) that runs in any Internet browser. No need to wait for trying the system, G.ho.st is already in public alpha; we will be upgrading this to a full public beta during the coming summer.
Thanks
i don't get the point either. eyeos intends to be open source so why limiting the possibilities of use and starting some web os war? probably all about the publicity.
take into consideration: only by intensifying their development in whatever direction, eyeos will be able to reach much more advanced web operating systems such as destkoptwo or www.oos.cc